Following a difficult 2024/25 campaign that almost culminated in relegation to League One, few saw Preston North End’s meteoric rise up the Championship table this season coming.
Paul Heckingbottom’s side went into 2025/26 perhaps looking over their shoulder despite somewhat of a squad rebuild, but a strong start to the campaign has left supporters dreaming of the Premier League with just 20 games to go.
The Lilywhites are currently fourth in the Championship, and are just three points off second-place Middlesbrough, although they have just a two-point buffer over seventh-placed Hull City in what is a tightly-contested promotion battle.
Nevertheless, the mood at Deepdale is perhaps the greatest it has been since the days of Billy Davies in 2005 and 2006, and a successful January transfer window could give the Lancashire outfit a chance of promotion to the top flight for the first time since 1961.
While new faces will be welcomed, securing an upgraded deal for Lewis Dobbin from Aston Villa could well be the best business that Heckingbottom completes this month – if they can find the funding for it.
Preston North End should seek a permanent deal for Lewis Dobbin from Aston Villa
Lewis Dobbin’s career has been turbulent to say the very least, with the winger finding it tough to find himself a place to call home over the last few years.
Having started out at Everton, the 23-year-old joined Derby County on loan in 2022/23, making a decent but not extraordinary impact in League One before joining Aston Villa permanently in the summer of 2024, in what appeared to be a PSR-inspired move for £10 million, with Tim Iroegbunam moving the other way in a separate deal for £9 million.
However, he has spent the last year-and-a-half on loan at West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City and now Preston – and he’s showing a new level of ability at Deepdale.
While Dobbin struggled to find form with the Baggies and the Canaries, although there were flashes of quality before suffering an injury at Carrow Road, Heckingbottom has got the very best out of the Stoke-born starlet, with the forward – playing in a more central role as opposed to out wide – scoring six goals and registering five assists in 20 Championship appearances so far this season.
With his loan deal due to expire at the end of the campaign, and a play-off place a real possibility, signing the former Everton man may just be the perfect boost for the Lilywhites in the remaining games of the season.
Dobbin is clearly enjoying his football at Deepdale, and Preston may be the perfect club for him to make his own – but it may be difficult, given PNE’s tight finances.
Aston Villa’s success could make Preston North End’s chances of signing Lewis Dobbin easier
The 23-year-old scored against both Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City in his side’s last two matches, and with FA Cup third round football on the horizon against Wigan Athletic, he will be hoping to continue this fine start to 2026 on Friday evening if he plays.
Lewis Dobbin Preston North End 2025/26 Championship stats (FotMob)*
Appearances (starts)
20 (16)
Minutes played
1157
Goals (assists)
6 (5)
Shots (on target)
39 (12)
xG
4.42
Pass accuracy
78.3%
Chances created
20
*Stats correct as of 07/01/2026
Preston have already seen just how talented Dobbin is, and with his parent club currently embroiled in a title fight in the Premier League, staying at Deepdale could be the way forward for the attacker.
He is yet to make an appearance for Aston Villa, and it seems unlikely that this will change in the future and therefore a permanent move makes complete sense for all parties – although it would be nowhere near the £10 million he arrived at Villa Park for.
Dobbin has proven himself as more than capable of playing for a team at the top of the Championship, and with Premier League experience to his name, he could prove a very shrewd signing if PNE can get Villa to agree a cheap deal with perhaps a big sell-on clause.